Christina Quaile

Christina is working under the supervision and direction of Dr. Julia Ryan, providing therapeutic intervention for mental health and behavioral difficulties in children, adolescents, and their parents. Christina also assists Dr. Ryan with assessments as a psychometrist, administering standardized assessments and providing key observations. Christina focuses specifically on autism and ADHD, as well as related mental health and behavioral difficulties.

Christina’s dedication for supporting individuals with complex needs began over 24 years ago when her family fostered children and youth with special needs. Being a foster sister sparked her passion for understanding mental health and developmental differences, such as autism, developmental delays, and trauma. Christina also has personal experiences with traumatic family hardships that further her drive to support children, youth, and families with challenging circumstances. 

Christina has studied Developmental Services at Algonquin College and completed various undergraduate-level courses in Psychology. Christina has also sought additional training in specific areas, including certification in autism-related services, mental health first aid, and managing safety-related issues in the context of high-risk behavioral difficulties. Alongside her formal education, Christina has spent over two decades working directly with autistic students, their educators, and families at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. She assists school teams in implementing supports, problem-solve, and develop crisis management plans while also collaborating with families and community supports. This extensive experience provides Christina with a unique perspective on advocating for families and navigating school supports. Furthermore, Christina has served as a respite worker, volunteered at the Son-Rise Program affiliated with the Autism Treatment Center of America, and coordinated social skills programs for children, youth, and young adults, enriching her educational, professional, and community experiences.

With her extensive background in various community settings over the past 20 years, Christina has developed an approach that emphasizes connecting with clients on a personal level, meeting them where they are, and offering practical, solution-based strategies that help reduce stress and foster family connections. She employs a flexible style, collaborating on goals and leveraging her diverse experiences to help families understand and address the root causes of emotional and behavioral challenges. Christina offers home visits to families who benefit from hands-on coaching or for whom their home environment will allow for high engagement in services. Christina firmly believes in creating a non-judgmental, supportive space to help children, youth, and their families realize their potential, identify stressors and coping mechanisms, and develop independent skills to achieve their full potential. In the assessment setting, Christina’s ability to adapt to the needs of individuals displaying challenging behaviors such as avoidance, aggression, and task refusal enables her to connect with and promote self-regulation in some of the most difficult-to-reach clients. Her natural low-demand approach fosters self-regulation and a sense of safety for clients, allowing even the most anxious and avoidant clients to be assessed effectively.

Therapist & Psychometrist

TRAINING & certifications

-Autism certifications and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) trained from Geneva Centre for Autism
-Autism Certificate from International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)
-Mental Health and First Aid trained from Royal Ottawa Hospital
-Self-Reg Foundations Certificate from The Mehrit Centre
-DIR Floortime® Practitioner from The Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL)
-The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for young adults (PEERS®) 
-SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute:Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Level 1: The Foundations